Restaurants — Paroles de vignerons - Vinparleur

Restaurant Leclere in #Montpellier - Meeting the 5^th Element

Permalink, by Dame B.

Meanwhile, we know quite a lot of restaurants within the region. All the greater is our joy when a new restaurant manages to charm our taste buds in a particular way.

The Leclere in Montpellier has it all: plain but pleasant decoration, friendly and warm service, extremely tasty dishes based on fresh seasonal products.

All four elements are there.

EARTH is not only represented in walls of natural stones, but also in the taste of the products, freshly being dug out from the ground. An example: Chanterelles with a broth made from hazelnuts, toasted bread and old Parmesan.
FIRE seems to flow from the heat lamps, under which Guillaume Leclere finishes his plates, dipping the room in a very peculiar light.
The lightness of the food, such as grilled veal rib with cress, cauliflower and walnut foam, seems to refer to the AIR.
Last but not least, WATER quickly turns into wine at this location... We went for a Saint Joseph from the northern Rhône Valley, whose minerality and palatability knew to enhance the sophistication of the food.

No doubt, the evening in company with the four elements is a real trip back to nature. The chef repeatedly proves his feeling for authenticity of food and taste, and gladly joins you at your table in order to discuss about it.

PS: Inspired by Luc Besson we would yet like to add a fifth element to this location: Love. We love this restaurant!
Gourmets in the country side - Restaurant L’Authentic in Saint Christol close to Montpellier

Permalink, by Sebastian Nickel

In France, an “evening with friends” often means a as much as “an evening in the restaurant”. This time it took us to “L’Authentic” a restaurant in Saint Christol, east of Montpellier. In his restaurant, which is part of the wine tourism complex VIAVINO, Jérôme Fanguin offers a semi-gastronomic Mediterranean cuisine.

The restaurant consists of a large, modern space dominated by wood, which is adjacent to the open kitchen, as well as a shaded terrace. The welcome is warm and the service friendly and efficient.

For an aperitif we opt for wine, a Languedoc from Saint Saturnin, that will accompany us throughout the evening. The wine list is impressive, both in terms of selection, as well as quality. The menu is in no way inferior to it, stimulating our salivary glands: beef from the Massif Central with “beurre maître d’hôtel”, semi-cooked foie gras, perfumed with Cartagène (a local sweet wine) from Saint Chritol and honey cake jelly, Estoffinado (a dish made from stockfish, potatoes, walnut oil, eggs ...) with pimento from Espelette ... One plate follows the other on our table, in the middle of chattering and laughter. A successful evening. Great final with the deserts: a “Royal au chocolat” and a”Délice aux Poires", a delicacy of pears with a core of molten, salty caramel...

What remains of the evening? The memory of extremely tasty dishes, with fresh products from the region, prepared with simplicity and efficiency… and much laughter. Thank you girls for the wonderful evening!
Restaurant Le Pastis - fine food in Montpellier

Permalink, by Dame B.

Restaurant Le Pastis – Fine food in Montpellier

We like to go to the restaurant. Leaving everyday’s life outside, taking a break and recharge the batteries. We often got to LE PASTIS, our favourite restaurant in Montpellier, where Daniel Lutrand reigns in the kitchen, while Jean-Philippe Vivant is on the way between the tables.

We especially like the friendly service, the place in the Old Town and the fresh products. Because at the PASTIS, every effort is done to highlight the products of the season, to sublimate and to embellish them. The menu at the PASTIS is a surprise. Every day. For those who like reading, there is a small, but exquisite wine list with wines from the Languedoc and abroad (and even a Riesling from the German Mosel made it to its cellar!).

Once they are informed about products you might not like or even be allergic to, the parade may start! Because that’s what it really is: A parade of colours, odours, textures and flavours that travels over the tables.

A small example of a summer menu:

A light soup from Cavaillon melons and raspberries with Roram (Thai Basil) as “Amuse gueule”, followed by a slightly marinated mackerel fillet with tomato “Tuille” and olive shortbread, that brings you to veal, accompanied by aubergines and courgettes filled with Sobressada.

The whole thing goes along of course with a nice bottle of wine from the varied wine list mentioned above, through which Jean-Philippe will guide with skill and daring surprises. Last time, he brought up an old Chardonnay vintage from Limoux. An excellent choice, in which wine and food highlighted each other.

At the PASTIS you also know everything about “Hara Hachi Bu”, a Confucian teaching that instructs people to eat until 80 percent of repletion. So one rises at the end with ease and feeling well.

We have no doubt that the PASTIS will also become one of your favourites in Montpellier. Align the two of them a greeting from us!